53rd Coppa Sabatini - 1.1

Italy, October 6, 2005

Bertolini with late attack

Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze) has succeeded Jan Ullrich on the palmares
of the Coppa Sabatini, which was run for the 53rd time today. After making the
lead group that formed with 50 km to go, the Italian attacked with just over
a kilometre left, before the final climb up to the finish in Peccioli, and was
able to hold off his nearest chasers. Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua & Sapone) crossed
the line a few metres behind Bertolini, with Domina's Mirko Celestino giving
the team some more podium time with third place.

"It's a delicate win for me," explained Bertolini after the finish. "I'm in
an important period because the team still has to confirm me for next year.
I'm a team man with a lot of experience and I'm still hopeful. I'm 34 but I
still have a lot of desire to ride the bike. I had a lot of problems at the
start of my career because in the amateurs I won a lot and I was a "big name".
As a professional, I didn't have someone to teach me the trade, but now I have
the maturity to give something back to the team."